opportunity rover

Dr. James Rice is the senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute in Arizona. He is also the geology team leader on the Mars Exploration Rovers Project (which includes Spirit and Opportunity), as well as Co-Investigator on the Athena Science Instruments onboard these rovers. Dr. Rice is joining us today to discuss the recent landing of Mars Insight, provide an update on the status of the Opportunity Rover, and examine why the Jezero Crater was recently selected as the landing site for the Mars 2020 rover.

The Opportunity Rover, which has been surviving on Mars since January 2004, is struggling for its life during the dust storms on the red planet. In this episode, Dr. Jim Rice, the senior scientist at the Planetary Science Institute, discusses the current dust storms (the worst ever recorded) and how Opportunity is being affected. Dr. Rice is the co-investigator and geology team leader on the Mars Exploration Rover Project, which includes Spirit and Opportunity. He also has mission experience working on the Mars Odyssey Orbiter and Lunar Reconnaissance Orbiter Projects.